SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

There is a three year LHS graduation requirement in History and Social Studies. Four years are strongly recommended. All freshmen and sophomores will take the two year World History course sequence. All juniors will take one year of U.S. History. It is strongly recommended that students choose a variety of Social Studies electives as listed in the Elective Section. The LHS Social Studies Program is aligned with the MA History and Social Science Framework.

Freshmen

All freshmen are required to take World History I. This course will survey World History through the 18th Century. Units of study include, but are not limited to, Medieval India, China, Japan, Middle Eastern History, Byzantine Civilization, the European Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation and Enlightenment and the French Revolutions. Attention will also be given to the geography, culture, economic systems and civic life of the main societies and eras of World History. Foundation principles in civics and economics will be introduced.

Sophomores

All sophomores are required to take World History II. This course will survey World History beginning with Industrialization in the 19th century up to the present day. Some topics will include: New Economic Theories, European Imperialism, World War I and II, Genocide in the 20th Century, global interdependence and the Developing World. Attention will focus on the history, culture, geography, economic systems and civic life of the main societies and eras of World History.Foundation principles in civics and economics will be introduced.

Juniors

LHS Juniors are required to take one year of U.S. History. Most students will study U.S. History from the American Revolution to the present. However, to adequately prepare students for the Advanced Placement exam, the A.P. course will cover U.S. History from the European Discovery to the present. Foundation principles of economics as well as Massachusetts and local civics will be introduced. In all junior history courses, the focus will be on the development of critical thinking and writing skills.

Electives

Electives in the Social Studies are designed to give students a sense of college level work and an opportunity to study the various disciplines of the social studies in an introductory format.

EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENT LEARNING

Across all required courses, our students should be able to:

Identify and interpret multiple ways to express time relationships and dates.

Interpret timelines that show how events and eras in various parts of the world are related to each other.

Interpret charts and graphs that show quantitative information.

Identify and interpret the historical significance of primary and secondary source documents.

Write a historic persuasive essay.

Locate and utilize various types of academic sources.

Use appropriate technology to support learning in social studies.

Our World History I students should be able to:

In the area of History & Geography

Recognize and identify the major events and trends of World History to 1800.

Identify significant locations in World History to 1800.

In the area of Civics and Government

Describe the purpose and functions of government.

Explain and provide examples of different forms of government.

Explain the characteristics of American democracy, including the concepts of popular sovereignty and constitutional government.

In the area of Economics

Define and use correctly mercantilism, feudalism, economic growth and entrepreneur.

Identify the causes of inflation and explain who benefits and suffers from inflation.

Our World History II students should be able to:

In the area of History & Geography

Recognize and identify the major events and trends of World History from 1800-present.

Identify significant locations in World History from 1800-present.

In the area of Civics and Government

Explain the varying roles and responsibilities of federal, state, and local governments in the United States.

Describe the evolution of the role of the federal government.

In the area of Economics

Describe and explain the foundations of capitalism including supply and demand, equilibrium price and competition.

Our United States History students should be able to:

In the area of History & Geography

Recognize and identify the major events and trends of United States History from the American Revolution to the present.

Identify significant locations in U.S. History to the present.

In the area of Civics and Government

Explain the major components of MA state government.

Explain the major components of local government in MA.

Explain the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

In the area of Economics

Explain the basic economic functions of the government in the economy of the United States.

Differentiate between fiscal and monetary policy.

Describe the evolution, organization and functions of the Federal Reserve System.

Analyze how federal tax and spending policies affect the national budget and the national debt.